"I-it can't be! No… not her…" Cloudtail was standing near the front of Snakerocks, hanging his head to say his final good-bye to Brindleface. The she-cat's eyes were glazed over, her throat was bloody from a horrible wound, and Cloudtail could smell dog and ShadowClan on her fur. "How did this happen?"

Dustpelt nosed Brindleface's paws. "Look. There's fur in her claws. It's Tigerstar's fur."

Fury rose into the white warrior like a raging storm. "He killed her! I'll hunt him down as long as he lives! I'll rip the lives out of him until he pleads for mercy! Then I'll just kill him again! I'll-" Ashpaw and Fernpaw cut Cloudtail's rant off by brushing past him. When Dustpelt returned to the camp, he told them that they should come along. He also brought Mousefur, Graystripe, Sandstorm, and Brackenfur to be on the look out for any danger in the area.

"Why did Tigerstar do this?" Ashpaw whispered in his sorrow. "Why did he kill my mother?" The apprentice buried his face in Brindleface's pelt.

"He wants revenge on ThunderClan," answered Cloudtail. "What I want to know is why Brindleface smells of dog. After looking at Brightpaw and Swiftpaw's wounds, it seems unlikely that she was killed by anything other than the traitorous flea-bag that is Tigerstar." Cloudtail was glad that he was able to still call Brightpaw and Swiftpaw by normal names. After Dustpelt stormed into the camp, Whitestorm and Cloudtail had managed to convince Bluestar to put the ceremony on hold until they returned. ThunderClan was privately hoping that she would forget.

Dustpelt narrowed his eyes. "That's a good question. You don't think that Tigerstar is using the dogs for his revenge, do you?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. And it makes sense, considering that Tigerstar could sit back while the pack kills us off one by one." Cloudtail brushed his tail over Brindleface's torn pelt. Memories swam in his head like fish in a river, of when he was a tiny kit and Brindleface agreed to take care of him to Cloudtail's apprenticeship. Brindleface treated him like he was one of her own kits. "She was a great cat…"

"There's one thing I don't get." Brackenfur abandoned his watch post and padded over to his clanmates. "Why did Tigerstar kill Brindleface?"

"Haven't we been over this? He wants revenge on ThunderClan." Cloudtail rolled his eyes. "Listen next time, Brackenfur."

Brackenfur shook his head. "That's true, but I think there was more. If what you said is true, and Tigerstar is using the pack, then he has to have a way of controlling them. Tigerstar is too smart to let himself get killed by these beasts. Then there's the fact that you said he wants to use the dogs to kill us. If he was using them to do that, then what's the point of coming over here himself and murdering any cat he sees? No, Tigerstar has to have a reason for doing what he does." Brackenfur paused, letting his words sink in while he ran a paw over an ear. "We already know the dogs are at Snakerocks, and Brindleface was conveniently alone near here."

Cloudtail grew impatient. "Get to the point already!"

"I think Tigerstar murdered Brindleface to give the pack a taste for cat blood."

Dustpelt's eyes grew wide. "You mean he was trying to lure the pack to ThunderClan's camp?" Brackenfur nodded.

"Then we have to get away from here before that happens!" Cloudtail started to grab the dead she-cat, but Brackenfur stopped him.

"It won't do any good. I looked farther down towards camp. There's dead rabbits all over the place. Even if we move the trail, the scent of cat and prey is everywhere. You know how dogs are. They get excited when they see or smell a cat."

Cloudtail lashed his tail. "Fine, then! If you're such a genius, then make a plan!"

"You're the deputy," countered Brackenfur. "It's up to you."

I'm guessing that means he has no idea. "I've been deputy for what, a day? Two days? I have no experience with planning these things." But Fireheart does… "I have an idea!"

Longtail snorted. "First you have no idea, then you suddenly have a plan one second later."

Cloudtail ignored him. "Mousefur, Ashpaw, Fernpaw, Brackenfur, and Longtail- take Brindleface back to camp. The least we can do is keep the pack from shredding her. Tell the elders to bury her as soon as everyone says good-bye."

"You mean we won't sit vigil? StarClan set down these laws! Dead aren't to be buried until morning!" Mousefur hissed.

"If StarClan cared for us at all, then they wouldn't have given Tigerstar nine lives! Explain why they did to me and I'll start trusting your little nursery tale." Cloudtail dismissively flicked his tail; his clanmates raced away. Only he, Graystripe, and Sandstorm were left.

"Where are we going," asked Sandstorm.

"To the one place where I can get help," Cloudtail answered. "We're going to WindClan to visit Fireheart."